ENGLAND will send out what is probably the fastest back three in their history intending to leave scorch marks across Twickenham.

With Mike Brown counted out through concussion, England yesterday named a full-back and wing combination to face Australia that rivals any in the world game for pace.

A trio of Anthony Watson at full-back plus Elliot Daly and the restored Jonny May out wide brings with it an element of the unknown.

It will be Watson’s first start for England at full-back – where he plays for Bath – after 27 previous outings on the wing. But it also carries with it pulsating promise.

“We’re disappointed Mike’s not playing but it’s a great opportunity for Anthony. He’s a hard worker, he’s got pace and I thought he was one of the best players on the Lions tour. Anthony will fill the job superbly. He’s like a Maserati. He’s an absolute flyer,” said England coach Eddie Jones.

“Jonny will be the fastest winger on the field and any opportunities he gets, he’ll turn into points for us.

“We’ve got to rise to the occasion. We’re playing against the best team in the world team at the moment. They’re the form team.

“There’s nothing better than an Australia v England sporting contest. I’m looking forward to Saturday, it should be a ripper of a game.”

The selection of Watson at full-back could offer a glimpse of England’s future. At 23, he is nine years younger than Brown.

He fared well under the high ball after taking over at the back when the Harlequin went off against Argentina on Saturday and if he can use the extra room to show his dancing feet in attack this weekend, he could make a permanent claim for the No 15 jersey.

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There’s nothing better than an Australia v England sporting contest. I’m looking forward to Saturday, it should be a ripper of a game.

Eddie Jones

May, who has recovered from the hamstring strain that kept him out against the Pumas, has been in potent form for Leicester and has just recorded a personal best sprint time in the England camp.

He will line up on the right wing, as opposed to his usual left wing club slot, leaving the No 11 jersey to Daly.

“I’ve played mostly on the left wing, mainly because I preferred the number 11 to 14. I prefer odd numbers to even numbers,” explained the wonderfully weird May. “But it makes complete sense for Elliot to be on the left wing because he’s left-footed.

“Elliot is a fast guy as well, he’s got some wheels and we know Tone is quick. We’ll miss Browny but it’s an exciting back three.

“We have spoken about Australia’s kicking game and we want to put pressure on that and hopefully get some good opportunity to run the ball back at them.” England have made three personnel changes in all to their starting line-up following the 21-8 win over Argentina last weekend.

Owen Farrell displaces Henry Slade at inside centre while Joe Launchbury replaces George Kruis in the second row.

On the bench Maro Itoje returns alongside Joe Marler who is back after a three-week suspension.

The grand plan for Itoje entailed more conditioning work post-Lions tour but his gym scores have been such that Jones has been persuaded to accelerate his return to the match-day squad.

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Anthony Watson could make a permanent claim for the full-back position

“We just felt that the benefit of him not playing rugby this week wasn’t there,” said Jones. “He’s just so fresh and eager to go. It’s like he’s been away to Barbados for three weeks.”

The return of Farrell and Itoje – both shortlisted for world player of the year – provides a double lift for the side after the flat performance against Argentina.

“How good’s that for the team to know that we’ve got two of the player deemed best in the world? How good is it when you can put one of them on the bench?” asked captain Dylan Hartley.

It is not the end of the story though as regards mothballing overworked Lions with the 2019 World Cup in mind. Expect other tourists to be left out during the Six Nations.

“Maro and Owen are now I think approaching their best but the others are miles away from their best,” said Jones.

“This is going to be a difficult period of time for us. We’ll need to take other players out at certain times to recondition them because again we’re moving towards the World Cup and we need players to be fit.

“The number of players who have suffered long-term injuries from the Lions tour is significant. We had 17 players on that Lions tour and if we get any long-term injuries in 2018 then it affects our ability to play in the World Cup.”